AN: Another chapter that ended up being longer than I planned XD Oh, well. My weekend is looking pretty busy so I might change to updating every other day instead of daily. Just letting you know so that if that happens you guys won't be worried. Anyways, thanks for reading :)
Disclaimer: Vivienne Medrano owns Hazbin Hotel.
It was nearing nightfall when the phone in her shop suddenly rang, startling Rosie from where she'd been relaxing with a soothing cup of tea. She'd been about to head upstairs for bed, being completely tuckered out after the day's activities, but figured it was best to answer. After all, you never know when someone might be in need of advice. Rising to her feet, Rosie took a moment to stretch before making her way across the floor and picking up the receiver of her candlestick telephone right as the third ring faded away into silence.
"Hello? You've reached Rosie's Emporium, how can I help you this fine evening?" She asked, her voice lilting and kind.
"Rosie? Oh, thank Lucifer you picked up. I was so afraid you wouldn't answer. I don't know what I'd have done if you didn't!" Charlie spoke in a rush, voice frantic. "Listen, I need your help. It's all so terrible. I just... I can't think of anywhere else to go and I don't know what to do and he's hurt and..."
"Charlie? Charlie, take a deep breath for Auntie Rosie. I need you to calm down before you give yourself a heart attack." She coached, worry washing over her as she listened to the poor girl's painful gasps.
Once the princess seemed to be breathing easier she spoke once more.
"Good, now tell me what I can do to help." The cannibal leader inquired, concerned for the young girl. "Are you all right? Who's hurt?"
"It's Alastor!" Came the desperate response, nearly causing Rosie's legs to buckle as a new kind of fear erupted in her heart. "He disappeared while fighting Adam. No one knew what happened or where he went but we finally found him and, oh Rosie, it's bad. So so so bad. He's not doing well at all and we need somewhere safe where he can rest. If we don't get him patched up soon I... I'm not sure he'll make it."
The last bit was said in a near whisper and the cannibal leader felt tears fill her dark eyes, slipping unimpeded down her cheeks. She held a trembling hand over the receiver to muffle the choked sob that was attempting to tear itself from her throat. Alastor was like a son to her. When he'd first stumbled into her store, new to Hell and uncertain of his powers, Rosie had taken him under her wing. She'd helped guide him, taught the boy everything he'd need to know to survive down here all the while eliminating any who dared to mess with her ward. It had been a pleasant time, a simpler one. Back then, they knew exactly what to expect from life and how to get by in the best possible way. It was nice.
Nice things don't last forever though, not in Hell, and they grew apart over time. It was slow, so much so that she didn't even realize it was happening at first. But then it hit her, Alastor no longer needed her guidance as badly as he had in the beginning. Gone were the days when he'd come running to her for advice. He was too busy making a name for himself as the feared Radio Demon. Too busy carving out his own territory in Hell, to pay her any mind. Needing to fill the aching void she felt at his absence, Rosie turned her attention to the other poor souls who came seeking her aid. Even so, her fondness for him never lessened, not in the slightest. He was still her son in all but blood and now it seemed as if she may lose him for good.
Why, oh why, hadn't she thought to check on him? She'd known the plan! Knew he was going to be in great danger. But then again, so were the rest of them. Fighting exorcists ain't easy. Rosie had simply assumed the other overlord was safe and sound after the battle, probably munching on an angel wing like the rest of her people. After all, Alastor had promised they could eat their fill, so that's what they did. It was quite the picnic, that's for sure. Once finished, she and the others returned to Cannibal Town with full stomachs, their work at the hotel complete.
To be honest, she hadn't even considered this outcome a possibility... not for someone as strong as her Alastor. He had always seemed so untouchable, never allowing anything to bother him. But no, that wasn't true, was it? Rosie could remember the times he'd come crying, missing the mother he spoke so highly of. She'd spent many a night with him nestled up beside her, head tucked under her chin as she held him close, allowing him the comfort he so desperately sought. Rosie knew perfectly well that she wasn't really his mother but she'd been content with what they'd had. Now she wasn't sure she deserved even that much seeing as she'd abandoned him in his hour of need, however unintentional it had been.
"Rosie? Hello? Are you still there?" Charlie called through the telephone, panic edging into her voice. "Rosie answer me!"
That snapped the older female out of her spiraling thoughts. Taking a few calming breaths to regain control of her emotions, the overlord felt her eyes narrow with resolve. She may not deserve to call Alastor her son but she would let no further harm befall him... not while there was still breath in her body.
"Bring him to my shop, sweetie." She said, at last, hearing a sigh of relief on the other end of the line. "I'll have everything ready for your arrival. Just leave it to Auntie Rosie."
"Oh thank you so much, Rosie! I can't say how grateful I am for your kindness." The princess declared in relief. "We'll get there as soon as possible."
With that said, she hung up the phone and Rosie was left in silence.
'I'm so sorry, Alastor.' She thought to herself whilst pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to delicately dab at the tears flowing from her eyes. 'I promise I'll make this right.'
Pulling herself together, the female overlord rushed upstairs and began getting her guest room, the one Alastor had claimed as his own so many years ago, ready for her son's arrival. She turned down the covers, grabbing extra blankets from the closet just in case, before rushing off to find her first-aid kit. Rosie didn't know what condition her boy would be in when they arrived but, judging from what little Charlie had said, she was prepared for the worst.
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Stepping into the darkness, Husk steeled his nerves. He didn't know what he was about to see, he only knew that it was bad. In all the time he's known Alastor, he'd never seen him so much as injured, well, not badly enough to lose his composure, that is. His boss had always kept that damn smile, making it nearly impossible to figure out what he was thinking unless you really knew him. It had taken years of interaction, of closely studying the other, before Husk was able to look past the facade and see Alastor for the man he truly is. Hidden behind the smug exterior and murderous inclinations was a man who simply wanted a place to belong. Somewhere he wouldn't be looked down upon and could be himself. Well, Hell seemed as good a place as any, Husk figured, so why did the deer demon continue to hide himself behind his mask? That was something the feline had yet to figure out.
Slipping into a wider section of the cave, Husk froze, ears laying flat on his head as his wings drooped. He fiercely fought back the urge to hiss, not letting out a sound even as anger began coursing through his veins like electricity. The sight that lay before him would haunt his dreams for years to come. Alastor, his boss... his friend... lay motionless, chest covered in blood that was lazily leaking through makeshift bandages. He couldn't tell what was fresh and what wasn't, just that there was far too much for his liking. Al's head rested on his so-called rival's lap, red hair matted with sweat and laying limply against his pale face, no smile in sight. Every once in a while he would twitch as if in pain before falling still once more, never once showing any sign of waking. It felt like he was watching a scene from a movie. Surely, this was too surreal to actually be happening. Alastor was strong, fierce, and independent... nothing ever fazed him... now he simply looked broken.
He'd hated him at first, it's true. Alastor had taken him for all he was worth, then took his soul on top of it. He'd been resentful, angry. Husk had wished for a fate such as this to befall the other sinner so many times he'd lost count. Of course, that had been before he'd gotten to know him, before he came to realize that Alastor wasn't quite as evil as he'd assumed. Sure, he was still an egotistical lunatic with a penchant for murder but there was more to him than that. Husk knew he got off easy. The Radio Demon, as feared as he may be, had never once caused him harm. He'd heard the horror stories of abuse and trauma from other sinners who had sold their souls but had never experienced such a thing while bound to Alastor. Angel Dust, in comparison, had it far worse than him. The most Al tended to do is annoy the fuck outta him. Over time, his resentment slowly faded into an easy camaraderie, though he'll never admit it. So, now, seeing the overlord in such a state, Husk felt bile rise in his throat and was forced to turn away, attention falling on the other people in the room.
"How is he?" The cat demon questioned, taking in the troubled frown on Vaggie's face and Vox's pinched expression.
"Not good, but I don't think he's gotten worse either." The woman replied, rising to her feet from where she'd been crouched at the other's side. "He seems to be breathing a little easier at least. It should be safe to move him if we're careful."
"Good," he grumbled, allowing his eyes to fall on the prone demon once more now that he'd gotten himself under control. "Charlie's arranging a place for us to take him where he'll be safe. She should be done by the time we get him out of here."
"I'll go see how it's going then," Vaggie said, placing a hand on his shoulder briefly. "Bring him out when you're ready."
"Sure thing." He replied, waiting until the female was out of sight before turning to face Vox with a harsh glare.
The bartender studied him for a moment, taking in the pitiful expression the other tried to hide... but he saw it. He was a cat. They were known for being curious and observant, after all, and those instincts weren't lost on him.
"Why are you here?" He asked at last, voice nearly a growl as he bared his teeth in a feral smile. "I thought you hated Alastor?"
He wasn't truly angry at the blue sinner, simply egging him on to get answers for questions long unasked. He'd had his suspicions for a while now, his boss talked about the other overlord far too much for it to be a mere rivalry and not in a hateful way. Either they were lovers, which Husk thought unlikely as Alastor had never shown an interest in that kind of thing, or they were friends.
With a put-upon sigh, Vox lowered his eyes from where he'd been meeting the other glare for glare. Turning his attention to the deer resting on his lap, he brushed the damp hair off the other's forehead before speaking.
"I don't hate him, never have," Vox admitted, the soft look in his eyes serving as confirmation that he spoke the truth. "We've been friends for years, and acquaintances before that. Hell, I had my first run-in with him only a year after I appeared in this shithole. You know what happened? He saved my fuckin' life! So you'd best believe that when I saw an angel beating the shit outta him, I came as fast as I could. I care about this asshole and nothing you could ever say is going to change that!"
Husk's eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't expected the overlord to admit to such a thing so easily. Under normal circumstances, he probably wouldn't have. There must have been a reason the two decided to hide their relationship, after all. It only serves to prove how badly Alastor's fall has affected the other sinner. Vox looks exhausted, mentally and physically, and the former overlord feels pity weigh heavily in his heart for the other demon.
"Relax," Husk spoke, voice low and soothing as he held his hands up in a placating manner. "That's all I needed to hear. It's clear to me that you care about Alastor, maybe more than any of us, and from what I've heard him say about you, the feeling's mutual."
Vox stared at him, uncomprehendingly for a moment before a mortified expression appeared on his face and he turned away in embarrassment, realizing he'd been played.
"Hey now," Husk laughed, moving closer to crouch at the other's side and place a gentle hand on his shoulder. "No need for that. I only wanted to make sure of your intentions. Sorry if I pushed a little too hard... you're not the only one who cares about him, you know?"
"No problem," the TV Demon responded after a short span of silence, not bothering to lift his gaze from his injured friend's face. "Husk... I... well... I... fuck! Why is this so hard?"
The cat tilted his head in confusion but waited patiently while the other sinner gathered his thoughts. After what felt like ages, Vox turned to meet his eyes, face as serious as he'd ever seen it.
"What I was trying to say is, thank you Husk." He said, voice solemn.
"For what?" The cat couldn't help but reply, shocked.
"For being there for Al when I couldn't." The other male replied, turning back to watch Alastor with a soft smile. "He'll never admit it but he cares for you... all of you... so damn much. I won't lie, I was more than a bit jealous when he told me he was moving into the hotel."
Here, he let out a long-suffering sigh, as if the weight of the world was resting on the man's shoulders. It sounded to Husk as if this had been on Vox's mind for quite some time and it was probably good for him to be getting it off his chest.
"It had been just the two of us for so long. Sure, there was Rosie, but she doesn't count. She's more a mother figure, than a friend, ya know? So, when he moved into that shitty building and suddenly began growing closer to you fuckers... I don't know... I guess I felt threatened. I wasn't ready to give him up... I'm still not... but I know I wasn't there for him as much as he deserved. I was so busy building my technological empire that I lost track of what truly mattered. So, in the end, I'm grateful he found all of you."
Waiting a moment to make sure the overlord was finished, Husk took a breath. Man, they were all fucked up, weren't they? Then again, it is Hell, what else should he expect... sunshine and rainbows? He's not an optimist like the princess, he knows the world is full of injustice, but since moving to the hotel he's also starting to see the good in the people around him. They were lost souls just like him, looking for a place to belong. Judging from what he'd just heard, Vox isn't so different from them.
"If you regret not being there, you could always move into the hotel once it's rebuilt," Husk said at last, looking down at Alastor with a fond look in his eyes. "Start makin' it up to him, ya know?"
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Vox stared at the other demon in shock. Had this fucker really just invited him to live at the princess's hotel without a second thought? To be honest, the idea wasn't half bad. Lately, it seemed as if Velvette and Valentino only cared about the money he brought in, turning cruel at the drop of a hat. They'd had so many arguments this month alone, it was hard to even consider that they'd once been close. Maybe that had all been a lie, though. Looking at the relationship between himself and Alastor compared to that of him and the Vees it was plain to see, they'd never actually cared about him, had they? It was all subtle manipulations and masked mockery. How had he been so fucking blind?
"I think I might take you up on that offer." The overlord said quietly, voice full of disbelief at his realization.
"Good, then what do you say we get out of here?" The cat replied, voice upbeat as he knelt to take the Radio Demon into his arms.
"Careful," he exclaimed, not relinquishing his hold just yet. "I don't know if you were informed or not, but besides the big ass cut across his chest, Al also has at least one broken rib. After I found the first I was too worried about jostling it to check for more."
Husk nodded and Vox watched as the cat demon carefully ran his clawed hands over Alastor's chest before sighing in relief.
"Only one is broken, thank Lucifer, and it's not a bad break at that. It should heal up fine." He said, reaching out once more. "Now let's get a move on. If we wait much longer, Charlie will come looking for us."
With a quick nod, Vox helped shift Al into the other's arms, making sure Husk had a good hold on him before letting go. As the cat stood, his wings flared out slightly, helping him keep his balance with the added weight before he turned to face the other male.
"You comin'?" He asked and Vox hurriedly got to his feet, swaying dangerously as a wave of dizziness overwhelmed him and he found himself clutching the wall to stay upright.
"Shit!" He exclaimed, closing his eyes to fight back the nausea that was bubbling up.
"Whoa, you good?" He felt something brush carefully against his side and peeled his eyes open, noticing it was Husk's tail.
"Yeah, don't worry." He said in response, swallowing thickly. "Just a dizzy spell. I'm fine."
"Just be careful and let me know if you need help," the other stated, waiting for Vox to nod in acceptance before he began carefully making his way back up the tunnel.
He followed slowly, never taking his eyes off Al's limp form. It had been hours since he'd last woken up and Vox was beginning to worry. It could simply be the fever and blood loss taking their toll but what if it was something else? That thought worried him to no end. To his knowledge, no one had ever survived a blow from an angelic weapon. Did they even know how to treat such an injury? Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment, he blinked as he stepped into the fading light and found himself surrounded by a group of people.
"Oh thank goodness," the princess exclaimed, worry etched on her face. "I was just about to head back down and see what was taking so long."
"Charlie, babe, relax," Vaggie spoke, placing a calming hand on her girlfriend's arm. "It hasn't even been ten minutes since I left them down there."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right. I'm just soooo worried," she replied. That was a sentiment that Vox could agree with.
Taking a moment to glance around, he noticed that nearly everyone had an equally concerned expression on their faces. It made some of the apprehension he felt at meeting them ease away. If they cared about his friend as much as they seemed to, then he was willing to give them a chance. Although, he wasn't impressed by the glare Lucifer was leveling at Alastor's still form.
'Alastor, what the fuck did you do to piss off the King of Hell?' He thought to himself, mildly amused but more concerned than anything.
If, for whatever reason, Lucifer had it out for the Radio Demon, he'd have to stay on his guard. Still, if the king attacked, it wouldn't matter if he was on guard or off picking daisies... Al would be dead either way. Vox was strong, sure, but not strong enough to have any hope against the fallen angel who ruled over Pride. He'd have to hope that if it came to that, Charlie would be able to stop her father.
"Okay, so here's the deal everyone." The princess called, breaking him from his thoughts as he moved to stand next to Husk. "Rosie has agreed to let us bring Alastor there for the time being. The sooner we get him there the better, that's why Vaggie, Husk, and I will go on ahead. It'll take far less time to fly than to walk or drive. The rest of you can follow by car and meet us there."
Vox narrowed his eyes, no way was he letting the other overlord out of his sight for longer than necessary. It'll be fine, though. He has his own mode of transportation. It's true, he's never traveled through electrical currents with a concussion before but hey, there's a first time for everything. What could go wrong? With his powers, it'll take no time at all to get to Rosie's, in fact, he'll probably arrive first. Glancing around, he noticed the rest of the group nodding in agreement with what the woman had said.
"Then we're off." With that, the princess was scooped into her lover's arms and lifted into the air.
Before Husk was able to follow, Vox caught his arm in a firm grip, being careful not to dislodge his friend. The cat turned to him, brow raising in question as the others watched curiously. Choosing to ignore their stares, the blue sinner leaned in close so only Husk could hear.
"You better keep him safe or I will fucking murder you." He threatened, earning an amused huff from the other.
"I will," the cat returned, humor shining in his eyes. "There's no need to be an overprotective asshole, you can count on me."
They stared at each other a moment longer before Vox nodded and released the other demon's arm. He backed away, watching in silence as Husk took to the air with Alastor clutched to his chest, cradled protectively in strong arms. Not sparing another glance for the rest of the group, the overlord summoned his powers and disappeared in a flash.